Mercury Rev albums vary so much musically that it's impossible to say which is the best (though all are worth owning), but Boces certainly demands to be listened to again and again. Experimental but always listenable, I've yet to hear another album like it. My personal favourite tracks are the bizarre but wonderful Trickle Down, the intense joy of Bronx Cheer and the flute-led beauty of Down Are Feminine Balloons. But there's always something new to be gained from this album. Essential for fans of the band anyone who enjoys innovative, forward-thinkng music.N.B. The tracklisting above is completely wrong (sort it out, Amazon!) and the song Frittering mentioned in a previous customer review is in fact on their debut album Yerself Is Steam.

With 'Boces' (the follow-up to their debut masterpiece, 'Yerself Is Steam') Mercury Rev's Dave Fridmann and Jonathan Donahue are arguably the most creative artists to have emerged on the scene since David Byrne. Beautiful pastoral sounds of the flute merge with sonic collages, free-form jazz elements and guitar distortions underpinned by Fridmann's directed orchestration, to create a unique surreal dissonant fairytale atmosphere. Mercury Rev have produced some of the most imaginative music of all-time.

5.0 out of 5 starsthe sound of a band imploding..and a new beggining, 7 Jan. 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Boces (Audio CD)

Following on from 'yerself is steam' and 'lego my ego',this album was to be the last to feature David Baker. More coherhernt than its fore-runners,Boces takes more melodies on board and is better for it. Highlights include the fantastic turbo charge of Bronx Cheer,and the wacked out but ultimatley awesome Something For Joey,which featured porn icon Ron Jeremy combined with an outerspace space rocket orgy and a gang of children playing hide and seek in the video.A triumph-though seemingly a world apart from Deserter Songs.

Boces has been somewhat overlooked by the British musical press until now and there is no better time to re-evaluate in the face of the pretty but spineless 'Secret Migration'. The album is free-flowing, experimental and contains a few melodic gems amongst its artistry which threatens but never does lose its thread. Both sides begin with a classic twist of raw invention, particularly 'Something for Joey' with its fabulous arrangements and spiralling flute. 'Bronx cheer' is a one of the bands finest pop songs and 'Frittering' is a delightful low-key beauty. It ranks as strong as anything else by Mercury Rev, and I also recommend the brilliant 'See you on the other side' which is their most coherent work.